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About NUI Galway

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Law

Prof. Gerard Quinn B.A.,LL.B.,LL.M.,S.J.D.

Contact Details

Title

Professor

Address

Room 207Cdlp BuildingNui Galway

Telephone:

Ext. 3014

Email:

ei.yawlagiun@nniuq.drareg

Biography:

Gerard Quinn is the Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the NUI Galway School of Law. Called to the Irish Bar in 1983, he holds a masters (LL.M.) and doctorate in law (S.J.D.) from Harvard Law School.

His specialization is international and comparative disability law and policy.

He is a member of the Irish Human Rights Commission and helps co-ordinate the work of National Human Rights Institutions worldwide on disability issues. He led the delegation of Rehabilitation International (RI) during the UN Working Group that elaborated the basis for the new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

He has worked in the European Commission (as a civil servant), and held a number of posts such as Director of Research for the Irish Government’s Law Reform Commission and Vice President of the European Committee of Social Rights (Council of Europe). He sits on various advisory boards dealing with disability law and policy issues such as the Commonwealth Secretariat, SOROS-OSI (Washington, DC), Disability Rights Fund (Boston, MA), European Foundation Centre Consortium on Disability(Brussels), European Coalition for Community Living (London), Interights (London).

In January 2012 President Michael D. Higgins appointed Professor Quinn to the Republic of Ireland’s Council of State.

Research Interests

International & comparative disability law

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Quinn, G (2006) 'The Legal Status of the European Social Charter: Taking Interdependence and Indivisibility of Human Rights Seriously' In: The State of International Treaties and Human Rights. Strasbourg: Venice Commisson. [Details]

Quinn,G. (2009) 'Disability and Human Rights: a New Field in the United Nations' In: Krause, C; Scheinin, M (eds). International Protection of Human Rights: a Textbook' (Abo Akademi University Institute for Human Rights Turku/Abo Finland). [Details]

Quinn,G. (2007) 'Disability Discrimination Law in the European Union' In: Meenan, H (eds). Equality Law in an 'Enlarged European Union: Understanding the Article 13 Directives '. Cambridge University Press. [Details]

Quinn,G. (2006) 'The European Social Charter and EU Anti-discrimination Law - Two Force Fields withone Purpose' In: De Búrca,G; De Witte,B; Ogertschnig,L (eds). The Protection of Social Rights in Europe: Changes and Challenges. Oxford University Press. [Details]

Quinn,G. (2006) 'The Legal Status of the European Social Charter: Taking Interdependence and Indivisibility of Human Rights Seriously' In: The State of International Treaties and Human Rights (Venice Commission Council of Europe, Strasbourg). [Details]

Quinn,G. (2002) 'Human Rights and Disability: The Current Use and Future Potential of United Nations Human Rights Instruments in the Context of Disability' In: Quinn,G; Degener,T (eds). Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights. United Nations, Geneva. [Details]

Quinn,G: Degener,T. (2002) 'A Survey of International Comparative and Regional Disability Law Reform' In: Breslin; Yee (eds). Disability Rights Law and Policy: International and National Perspectives. Transnational, NY. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

Quinn, G,Flynn, E (2012) 'Transatlantic Borrowings: The Past and Future of EU Non-Discrimination Law and Policy on the Ground of Disability'. American Journal Of Comparative Law, 60 :23-48. [DOI] [Details]

Quinn,G. (2009) 'The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Towards a New International Politics of Disability'. Civil Liberties & Civil Rights, 16 :33-53. [Details]

Quinn, G (2009) 'Bringing the UN Convention on rights for persons with disabilities to life in Ireland'. British Journal Of Learning Disabilities, 37 :245-249. [DOI] [Details]

Quinn, G. (2014) European Integration and the Taming of Nationslism National University of Ireland Annual Garret Fitzgerald Lecture [Details]

Quinn, G. (2014) The Right to Community Living Lessons for Israel, University of Haifa, Israel [Details]

Quinn, G. (2007) How European Disability Evolved - Lessons for China Address at Opening of Renmin Law School, Centre on Disability Law and Policy Beijing, China, [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) The CRPD - how it can drive change and the role of the Conference of State Parties United Nations, First Session of the Conference of State Parties under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UN Headquarters, New York City, [Details]

Quinn, G. (2009) The Importance of National Monitoring Mechanisms under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Address to the New Zealand Parliment Wellington, New Zealand, [Details]

Quinn, G. (2009) The future of European Legal Capacity Law & Policy European Foundation Centre, Consortium of Philanthropies on Human Rights and Disabilities Brussels, [Details]

Quinn, G. (2010) The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Implications for persons with Intellectual Disabilities Jo Mills Memorial Lecture, 10th World Down Syndrome Congress [Details]

Quinn, G. (2010) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Towards a New Unified Field Theory of Disability Law Socity of India, Pandit Memorial Lecture Pune, India, [Details]

Quinn, G. (2012) Toward a New US/EU Dialogue on Disability US International Council on Disability (USICD) [Details]

Quinn, G (2007) Keynote Address: ’Disabled Persons as Market Actors’ European Commission, European Day of Persons with Disabilities [Details]

Quinn, G (2008) Keynote Address: ’The Role of Service Providers under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ European Association of Service Providers (EASPD) [Details]

Quinn, G (2008) The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - the link with Philanthropy European Foundation Centre, Istanbul [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) Keynote Address: ’The Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities viewed from the United States’ YAI Annual Conference, New York City [Details]

Quinn, G (2008) Keynote Address: Monitoring the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ Cardiff University [Details]

Quinn, G (2008) Social Justice and Rights - the case of Disability American Bar Association conference, New York City [Details]

Quinn, G (2008) Keynote Address: Future Prospects for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitieS Rehabilitation International Global Conference [Details]

Quinn, G (2008) The Right to Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities European Coalition for Community Living, Drammen, Oslo [Details]

Quinn, G (2008) The Monitoring Provision of the Un Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Conference on Legal Measures to Ratify and Implement the CRPD, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [Details]

Quinn, G (2008) Keynote Address: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as an Engine of Law Reform Swedish Presidency of the Council of Europe Conference on Disability [Details]

Quinn, G. (2011) Some Reflections on the Impact of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Supporting Citizenship - The Future of Services for Persons with Disabilites in Ireland; The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as an Engine of Law Reform Protecting and Promoting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Europe’, Council of Europe [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) The CRPD - how it can drive change and the role of the Conference of States Parties United Nations, First Session of the Conference of States Parties under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 8 [Details]

Quinn, G. (2007) The UN Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a Trigger for Worldwide Law Reform German EU Presidency Ministerial Conference on ‘Empowering Persons with Disabilities [Details]

Quinn, G. (2007) Human Rights and Intellectual Disability - a Matter for All International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability (IASSD), 2nd South American Regional Conference [Details]

Quinn, G. (2004) Reflection Paper on the future of EU non-discrimination law and policy European Commission Conference on Article 13 Directives, Prague, 'Walking the Talk - Equal Rights in an Enlarged Union' [Details]

Published Reports

Quinn, G & Doyle, S (2012) Getting a Life: Living Independently and being included in the Community. United Nations, Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights European Office. [Details]

Conference Paper

Quinn, G. (2008) The Role of Service Providers under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. European Association of Service Providers (EASPD). Rome, Italy: Conference Paper [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) Monitoring the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Cardiff University Wales. Conference Paper [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - The Institutional Architecture for Change. Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities United National Headquarters. New York City, USA: Conference Paper [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) The Monitoring Provision of the Un Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Conference on Legal Measures to Ratify and Implement the CRPD Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Geneva, Switzerland: Conference Paper [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) The Right to Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities. European Coalition for Community Living. Drammen, Oslo, Norway: Conference Paper [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as an Engine of Law Reform. Swedish Presidency of the Council of Europe Conference on Disability. Strasbourg, France: Conference Paper [Details]

Quinn, G. (2008) The Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities viewed from the United States. YAI Annual Conference. New York City, NY, USA: Conference Paper [Details]

Non Published Reports

Quinn, G & Doyle, S (2012) Getting a Life - Living Independently and Being Included in the Community A Legal Study of the Current Use and Future Potential of the EU Structural Funds to Contribute to the Achievement of Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (Regional Office for Europe), Brussels. Non Published Reports [Details]

Quinn, G, Degener, T, Quinlivan, S. (2002) Human Rights and Disability, The Current Use and Future Potential of United Nations Human Rights Instruments in the Context of Disability. Non Published Reports [Details]

ANET/COS

Quinn, g (2011) The case for a new UN Treaty on the Rights Older People at the Irish Senate - Committee on Public Consultation: Hearing on the Rights of Older People. ANET/COS [Details]

Quinn, G. (2009) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Towards a New Unified Field Theory of Disability. [Keynote Address], Law Society of India, Pandit Memorial Lecture, Pune, India , 10-OCT-09 - 10-OCT-09.

Quinn, G. (2009) The Importance of National Monitoring Mechanisms under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilies. [Oral Presentation], New Zealand Parliament, Wellington, New Zealand , 19-FEB-09 - 19-FEB-09.

Employment

Employer: Harvard Law School, Human Rights Program Position: Research Fellow

Employer: National University of Ireland, Galway Position: Professor of Law

Employer: Law Reform Commission Position: Director of Legal Research

Employer: National University of Ireland, Galway Position: Director of Centre for Disability Law and Policy

Education

Year 1989 Institution: Harvard Law School Qualification: SJD Subject: Law

Year 1979 Institution: National University of Ireland, Galway Qualification: BACHELOR OF ARTS Subject: Political Philosophy & Legal Science

Year 1981 Institution: National University of Ireland, Galway Qualification: LLB Degree Subject: Law

Year 1983 Institution: King's Inns Qualification: Barrister at Law Subject: Law

Year 1985 Institution: Harvard Law School Qualification: Masters Subject: Law

Languages

French:

German:

Irish:

English:

Teaching Interests

Disability law & policy

Comparative disability law

Judicial activism

Recent Postgraduates

Modules Taught

2011/2012 The focus of this course is on international, regional and national law reform of legal capacity laws. Key issues include supported decision making and the assessment of legal capacity.: Legal Capacity Law and Policy

2011/2012 : Foundational Theoretical Framework in Disability Law and Policy

2011/2012 An overview of various regional approaches to disability law and policy as a way of transposing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and as a way of stimulating region-wide reform. : Regional Disability Law and Policy

About NUI Galway

Founded in 1845, we've been inspiring students for 170 years. NUI Galway has earned international recognition as a research led university with a commitment to top quality teaching.

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National University of Ireland
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